The Changing Profile of Regional Inequality

There is a growing concern in developing and transition economies that spatial and regional inequality, of economic activity, incomes, and social indicators, is on the increase. Regional inequality is a dimension of overall inequality, but it has added significance when spatial and regional divisions align with political and ethnic tensions to undermine social and political stability. Despite these important popular and policy concerns, surprisingly there is little systematic and coherent documentation of the facts of what has happened to spatial and regional inequality over the past twenty years. This paper is an attempt to meet this gap. It provides changing scenarios of multi-dimensional inter-temporal spatial inequality and level of development in Pakistan during early 1980s and late 1990s

Keselamatan jalan raya : di mana kita?

Malaysia mencatat kemalangan jalan raya pada kadar 200,000 kejadian setahun dari 1995 hingga 1998. Bagi tempoh yang sama, mangsa kemalangan berjumlah 54,475 orang dengan kadar kematian seramai 6,016 cedera parah 13,926 dan cedera ringan 34,533 orang. Bilangan kenderaan yang rosak akibat kemalangan jalan raya berjumlah 335,571 unit. Lebih daripada 95% kemalangan dan kematian berlaku di jalan raya negeri dan persekutuan berbanding lebuh raya. Kos kemalangan jalan raya dianggarkan melebihi RM 6.0 billion setahun. Pada 2000, nisbah kemalangan maut per 10,000 kenderaan menunjukkan perubahan yang baik iaitu 5.51% berbanding dengan tahun-tahun sebelumnya. Sebaliknya, nisbah kemalangan maut per 100,000 penduduk menunjukkan perubahan yang kurang memuaskan iaitu 27.01% berbanding dengan tahun-tahun sebelumnya. Keselamatan jalan raya di Malaysia agak membimbangkan negara maju seperti Britain (6.1%), Jerman (9.5%), Australia (9.4%) dan Jepun (8.5%). Kertas ini membincangkan beberapa strategi menangani keselamatan jalan raya yang dilaksanakan di beberapa negara termasuk Malaysia. Kertas ini akan mengutarakan konsep audit keselamatan jalan raya sebagai salah satu strategi penting bagi menangani keselamatan jalan raya di Malaysia

Management training : a developing country focus

This paper seeks to examine the training function in Barbados, specifically the training of executive personnel. It looks at the way in which training is designed, implemented and evaluated. A brief conceptual overview of management development and training is provided. The training function within four organisations is followed through Barbados Employers' Confederation (1988); Barbados Institute of Management and productivity (1990); Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (1983); and the Government Training Centre.(1991}. Of the four, two are in the private sector (Barbados Institute of Management and productivity, and Barbados Employer's Confederation) and the other two are in the public sector (Caribbean Centre for Development Administration, and the Government Training Centre). The interplay of theory and practice is conducted in relation to training policy, training method and posttraining evaluation. Towards the end of the paper, some general assessments are made and certain conclusions are reached.peer-reviewe

Synthesis of heterocycles containing chalcogens by C-H functionalization: a green approach

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Físicas e Matemáticas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Florianópolis, 2014.No presente trabalho desenvolveram-se novas metodologias eficientes, econômicas e ambientalmente adequadas para a síntese de oxadiazóis e benzotiazóis contendo uma porção organocalcogênio. Primeiramente, desenvolvemos a síntese de oxadiazóis selenados e tiolados através da funcionalização de ligação Csp2-H promovida por K2CO3, em um meio reacional livre de metais de transição. Em uma primeira etapa foram preparados oxadiazóis selenados com potencial para aplicações biológicas. Sob condições suaves, a reação ocorreu de maneira eficiente na presença de um equivalente do correspondente oxadiazol I, um equivalente de base (K2CO3), 0,5 equivalentes do correspondente dicalcogeneto de organoíla II, na presença de ar atmosférico. Através dessa metodologia, uma série de oxadiazóis calcogenados III na posição 5 do heterociclo foram obtidos em rendimentos que variaram de bons a excelentes. Adicionalmente, explorou-se a reatividade dos oxadiazóis selenados 3 em reações de troca calcogênio-lítio. Os intermediários oxadiazóis litiado assim obtidos foram capturados, in situ, com diferentes eletrófilos. É importante salientar, também que essa reação ocorreu de forma eficiente quando se aumentou sua escala para 10 mmol.Em uma segunda etapa desenvolvemos um novo método para a incorporação de calcogênios em benzotiazóis via reação de calcogenação direta da ligação C-H. Realizou-se a síntese de 2-organocalcogeno-1,3- benzotiazóis V através da calcogenação direta entre 1,3-benzotiazóis IV e dicalcogenetos de organoíla II catalizada por Fe3O4 nanopartículado. Esta metodologia permitiu a obtenção dos respectivos produtos calcogenolados V, em rendimentos que variaram de moderados a excelentes. Realizou-se, também, com sucesso, a reciclagem do catalisador em 4 ciclos sem um decréscimo acentuado no rendimento.Abstract : In the present work, we developed efficient, economical and greener procedures for to the synthesis of chalcogenated oxadiazoles and benzothiazoles. In the first part, we developed a K2CO3-promoted procedure for the synthesis of selenated and thiolated oxadiazoles 3 through Csp2-H bond functionalization, under transition metal-free conditions. We prepared for the first time selenated oxadiazoles, compounds with potential for biological applications. Under mild conditions, the reaction worked well in the presence of 1equiv. of oxadiazole I, a half equiv. of diorganyl dichalcogenides II, 1 equiv. of base (K2CO3), without the exclusion of air and moisture, affording a wide range of chalcogenated oxadiazoles III at the C5 position in good to excellent yields. The various substituents with different electronic effects and steric effects tolerated the optimized reaction conditions. Furthermore, selenated oxadiazole was explored for selenium-lithium exchange reaction and lithium-intermediate was trapped by different electrophiles. We were also successful in scaling up the reaction in up to 10 mmol. Subsequently, we developed a new method of incorporation of organoyl chalcogenides in benzothiazoles via direct chalcogenation of C-H bond. In this work, we report the synthesis of 2-organochalcogeno-1,3-benzothiazoles V via direct chalcogenation reactions between 1,3-benzothiazoles IV and diorganyl dichalcogenides II catalyzed by Fe3O4 nano particle. This methodology allowed us to obtain 2-chalcogen-1,3-benzothiazoles in moderate to excellent yields, as well as recycling successful the catalyst in up to 4 cycles without any major decrease in the yield

Legislation for child labor and compulsory schooling in Pakistan: some issues

The lack of proper legislation about child labor and compulsory schooling, and its enforcement sustains child labor and a bulk of out of school children in Pakistan. This is manifested in different ways. In this paper we have discussed the issues of legislation and its implementation. Since child labor legislation do not cover informal sector, it is further hampered by the collusion of parents with employers in violating the law. There are also inconsistencies in legislation, which may pose problems. For example, there is no uniform definition of child labor in different Acts of legislation, and the penalties for offenders are generally too light to have a deterrent effect. Statutory provisions clearly defining the nature of work do not accompany a legal ban on child labor. Moreover child legislation is not done according to the ratifications of international conventions.child welfair,national legislation pakistan,child labour

3D echocardiography allows rapid and accurate surgical planning in complex aortic root abscess cases

Despite 3D echocardiography (3DE) acquiring significantly greater data than standard 2D echocardiography (2DE), it is underutilised in assessing cardiac anatomy and physiology. A key advantage is the ability of a single 3DE acquisition to be post-processed to generate volume-rendered 3D models and an unlimited number of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images. We describe the case of a highly anxious patient with life-threatening complex aortic valve endocarditis and aortic root abscess, refusing transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) under general anaesthesia with tachycardia, breathlessness and acute kidney injury precluding accurate or safe gated (computed tomography) CT, who was comprehensively assessed with a rapid 3D-TOE under sedation. This led to timely surgery and an excellent outcome for the patient

Status, abundance and population ecology of Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus Pallas) in Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India

The data on population ecology of nilgai was collected in Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India from August 2013 to June 2014. A total of 108 herds of nilgai 54 in each season (summer and winter) were encountered, respectively. The density of nilgai was found 0.49/km2 in Aligarh district. While the encounter rate was found 0.66individuals per km. There was a mark seasonal change seen in group size of nilgai i.e. 11.38 ± 2.76, and 22.83 ± 5.40 in winter and summer, respectively. The overall mean group size was found 17.10 ± 4.08. The sex ratio of nilgai was female biased, adult male:adult female ratio was found 1:3 while overall sex ratio was found 61.55%,26.32% and 44% male, yearling and calves on per 100 females, respectively. The nilgai shows mark seasonal change in their group structure. The group size was found maximum at 25% in 0-5 individual category and minimum 9.25 in >21 category in winter, while about 30% were seen in >21 category and only 11% were seen in between 0-5 category in summer season. Thus, the nilgai was found less sociable in winter and more gregarious in summer season

The Effect of Capital Structure on Firm's Profitability: A Case of Listed Malaysian Industrial Firms

This paper attempts to examine the influence of capital structure, particularly in the presence of market imperfections on firm's profitability. The effect of corporate taxes, interest expense, debt level and equity size is analyzed using OLS estimates and correlation analysis. The research model justifies that capital structure changes in response to market imperfections which subsequently affect profitability. This findings empirically implies that: (a) higher debt level result in a lower profitability; (b) higher profitability associates positively with taxation expense but negatively with interest expense

Dynamique des inondations dans le continuum rivière-estuaire-océan littoral du delta du Bengale : synergie de la modélisation hydrodynamique et de la télédétection spatiale

Le delta du Bengale est le plus vaste au monde. Il est formé par la confluence des trois rivières transfrontalières que sont le Gange, le Brahmapoutre et la Meghna. Des inondations massives frappent régulièrement cette région côtière très densément peuplée, située à seulement quelques mètres au-dessus du niveau moyen de la mer. Elles résultent du puissant cycle saisonnier des débits fluviaux, de la marée océanique très ample, et des cyclones tropicaux fréquents. Au cours des cinquante dernières années, les inondations de la partie littorale du delta ont fait plus de 500'000 victimes. La montée du niveau moyen de la mer ne va faire qu'aggraver la vulnérabilité de cette région où le taux de pauvreté est très élevé. Le long du littoral, les estrans sont les zones alternativement inondées à marée haute et découvertes à marée basse. Leur topographie joue un rôle important dans l'hydrodynamique littorale et dans les submersions qui surviennent lors des évènements extrêmes. En mettant en œuvre une synergie entre l'imagerie par télédétection spatiale de la constellation Sentinel-2 et la modélisation numérique de la marée, nous avons cartographié la topographie de l'estran du delta du Bengale sur une superficie de 1134 km2, avec une résolution de 10 m. Les marées, qui sont le facteur dominant de la variabilité du niveau de la mer côtier, sont apparues comme sensibles à la montée du niveau de la mer. Dans une hiérarchie de scénarios de montée du niveau de la mer représentatifs de l'évolution attendue au 21ème siècle, nous avons conclu que l'amplitude de marée devrait augmenter significativement avec la montée du niveau de la mer, à la fois dans le Sud-Ouest et dans le Sud-Est du delta. Au contraire, l'extension graduelle et massive de la superficie des estrans dans la partie centrale du delta devrait induire une nette atténuation de la marée, dans ces scénarios futurs. La marée joue par ailleurs un rôle central dans l'évolution des surcotes cyloniques. Un exercice de prévision du dernier super-cyclone ayant frappé le delta du Bengale avec notre plate-forme de modélisation hydrodynamique couplée marée-surcote-vagues a révélé la nécessité du couplage dynamique entre ces trois composantes de la submersion, et nous avons pu confirmer le rôle-clé de la topographie côtière dans le succès des prévisions numériques. Grâce à une approche ensembliste basée sur la simulation numérique hydrodynamique de plusieurs milliers de cyclones synthétiques, cohérents tant du point de vue de la physique que de la statistique, nous avons pu conclure qu'il y a à l'heure actuelle de l'ordre de 10% de la population côtière du delta, soit trois millions de personnes, résidant dans la zone exposée à la submersion cinquentennale. La compréhension et la quantification des mécanismes de l'inondation exposés dans cette thèse constituent une information pertinente pour contribuer à l'ingénierie des infrastructures côtières, à la gestion du risque, ainsi qu'à l'élaboration de l'agenda de la recherche en hydrodynamique côtière sur le delta du Bengale.The Bengal delta is the largest in the world. It is formed by the confluence of three transboundary rivers - Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna. Flooding induced by large seasonal continental discharge, strong tide, and frequent deadly storm surges, regularly strikes this densely populated (density > 1000 person/km2), low-lying coastal region (<5 m above mean sea level). In the last five decades, coastal flooding took more than half a million lives. Ongoing global sea level rise (SLR) will only further aggravate the vulnerability of this impoverished region. Along the shoreline, intertidal zones are the first landmass that gets flooded, periodically between each high- and low-tide. Their topography plays an important role in the coastal hydrodynamics and associated flooding during extremes. A synergy between remote sensing from Sentinel-2 constellation and tidal numerical modelling allowed us to map an intertidal area of 1134 km2 and its topography at 10 m resolution. Tides, that prominently drive the variability of coastal sea level, are shown to be sensitive to SLR. In future SLR scenarios in line with the 21st century forecasts, we found that the tidal amplitude will significantly increase with SLR over both the south-western and south-eastern parts of the delta. In contrast, the central part of the delta will potentially experience massive free-flooding of river banks, hereby inducing a decay of the tidal amplitude. Tide plays a vital role in the evolution of storm surges also. Hindcast simulation of a recent super cyclone with our coupled tide-surge-wave model reveals the necessity of the coupling between tide, surge and wave modelling, and confirmed the crucial role played by the coastal topography for effective inundation modelling and forecast. With an ensemble forecast of thousands of physically and statistically consistent synthetic cyclones, we could conclude that about 10% of the coastal population of the Bengal delta, amounting to 3 million people, currently lives exposed to the 50-year return period flooding. The understanding and quantification of the inundation mechanisms extended in this study is expected to help with coastal infrastructure engineering, risk zoning, resource allocation and future adaptation to coastal flood across the Bengal delta